Collapsible container



' LROS ENFYI E Lb COLLAPSI BLE CONTAINER Feb. e, 1940.

Filed ul 14, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i v MENTOR.- efi. I ATTOATS;

mvsmm AfioRNEYs Feb. 6, 1940.

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Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- This invention relates to improvements in collapsible containers for general food purposes, and more particularly to a liquid tight caz-dboard container for the dispensing of bulk ice cream.

One of the main features of the invention resides in a cylindrical cardboard container which maybe easily collapsed into relatively flat condition for shipping purposes and for the conservation of space when stored for use, and which may be quickly assembled for use without the use of glue, metal stitching, or by the use of any other metal fastening means.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a collapsible container which may be set up for use by the hands of an operator as and when the occasion of use of the container arises, thus eliminating the expense of installing assembly machines in the packers plant as is now the case with the assembling of collapsible containers using metal rims and other forms of metallic fastening means. Furthermore, the elimination of metal rims in the present invention avoids the dangerous hazards of cutting the hands of the assembler of the container as well as those of a user of the container when dispensing the contents thereof.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a collapsible cylindrical container having an outer rigid bottom formed of a plurality of overlapping interlocking flaps, and reinforced by an inner disk bottom which is sufiicient to withstand the weight of the contents of the container to prevent accidental loss of the container contents through the container bottom.

A still further feature of the invention is to provide a collapsible cardboard container which is inexpensive of construction and which may be instantly discarded by a user after the contents. of the container has been dispensed, the container after use, being flattened to require a minimum amount of space in a refuse receptacle. pending final disposal of the discarded container from the premises of the user.

While I have set forth certain of the important features of my invention, other features will'become apparent as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanyin drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved collapsible container looking from the underside thereof, and showing the lid separated from the container body.

Figure 2 is a top plan'view of the container bodywith a portion of the bottom disk broken away.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the container body in collapsed position.

Figure 5 is a planview of the blank from which the container body is constructed and looking at the inner side thereof.

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view on the line 6--6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral l0 designates a cylindrical container body which is open at its top and to which a removable lid or cover H is fitted.

The container body is constructed from a single blank A of flexible material such as fibre board or paper board having an inner wax lining, or any other form of waterproof lining on the inside thereof so as to render the container moisture proof when used for the packing of bulk ice cream or the like. The portion of the blank A from which the tubular side walls, of the container body H3 is constructed, is of rectangular configuration and is designated B. The rectangular portion 36 of the blank is provided with spaced vertical score lines l2, the same being parallel and the scores are cut on the outer side of the-blank. The score lines l2 render the portion .8 of the blank more flexible to facilitate the flexing of the same'into tubular form. One

end of the portion B of the blank A terminates in a glue flap l3, while the opposite end terminates in a lapping flap l4-to which the flap I3 is adhesively secured. The blank A is provided with a horizontal fold line l5'which is disposed parallel to the top edge of the blank and extends the length thereof. That portion of the blank between the fold lines I 5 and the adjacent top edge thereof constitutes a reinforcing flange It, the outerside of which is provided with an adhesive whereby the flange l5 may be turned outwardly and downwardly and adhesively secured to the side walls of the container body to reinforce the open top edge of the container body. That end of the flange l6 adjacent the glue flap I3 is cut away as at H whereby the opposite end of the flange l6 designated 18 will lap the seam or joint between the adhesively connected flaps I 3 and I l.

Integral with the lower edge of the rectangular portion B of the blank A are four quadrantal shaped flaps l9, 2ll,*2l, and 22. Each of'the quadrantal flaps is foldable on an arcuate shaped fold line 23, the arc of which is concentric to the axis of the outer diameter of the container body it when the same is in set up condition. The central portion of the flaps is directly connected to the portion 13 of the blank A whereas spaced webs 241 connect the outer portion of the flaps with the lower edge of the rectangular portion B of the blank A. Each web is foldable on the arcuate fold line 23 and on a fold line it: at the joinder of the web with the portion B of the blank A. Each web is also foldable upon an intermediate fold line 26 which enables the webs to fold upon themselves as illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings.

Each of the flaps l9 and 20 is provided adjacent their apex with spaced slots ti. Each oi the flaps 2i and 22 has a tongue 28 extending from its apex portion, which tongue is cut to provide oppositely disposed locking tabs 29. When the blank is in fiat position as shown in Figure of the drawings, the flaps l9 and 28 are next to each other and the flaps 2i and 22 are likewise next to each other, the four flaps being equidistantly spaced but when the blank is folded into tubular formation by adhesively seeming the glue flap it to the flap id, the flaps to and it will be diametrically disposed with respect to each other and the flaps 2t and 22 will be diametrically disposed. Thus the locking tongue of the flap 2i can be locked to the flap i9 and the locking tongue of the flap 22 locked with the flap 2! Either set of diametrically opposed flaps may be brought into locking engagement with each other upon initial forming of the bottom wall of the container and when both sets of flaps are respectively locked together by inserting the lock tabs 29 through the slots M, a bottom wall is formed for the container body iii as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The bottom flaps of each pair are of a size to slightly overlap the flaps of the other pair in order to provide an entirely closed bottom for the container. When the flaps are folded along the arcuate shaped fold lines EEl-and the webs 24 are folded along their fold lines 25 and 26, the folded webs lie within the inner side of the flaps as shown in Figure 7. After the container body has been set up in the manner so far described, a cardboard rim 3G is fitted onto the tubular body of the container IE] from the bottom end the rim 30 having an inwardly rolled or folded flange all which fits against the peripheral edges of the flaps and which limits the inward insertion of the rim upon the container body. After the rim 30 has been thus applied, a cardboard disk 32 is inserted through the open top of the tubular member and is slid down to rest upon the inwardly folded webs 2d. The disk 32 is of such diameter as to snugly fit within the tubular body and press the side walls thereof into tight engagement with the rim 30.

The blank A is cut and the flaps l3 and M adhesively secured together by machine, but the tubular formed body member may be flattened for storage and shipping purposes in the manner shown in Figure 4-01 the drawings. The tubular formed member is folded on the score lines 33, which causes the flaps l9 and 20 to lie one against the other and the flaps 2| and 22 to likewise lie flat against each other. The container body may be quickly set up for use from the position shown in Figure 4 by merely opening the body and inwardly folding the quadrantal shaped bottom flaps into position and interlocking the-diametrically opposed flaps in the manner previously explained. The user of these containers will of course be supplied with rims 30 to apply in position in the manner explained and with inner bottom disks 32 and covers I I. Thus it is possible for a. manufacturer of ice cream to maintain a. supply of these collapsed containers in stock and individually set them up for use as the occasion demands. By reason of the simplicity of the construction, no machinery is necessary for use in the setting up of the container, nor does the container embody any metal parts which might cause-injury to the hands of a person handling the container when set up for use, or during the dispensing of the contents of the container.

After the contents have been entirely removed from the container, the same may be knocked down and discarded in a waste receptacle. The

dmposal of the container after use eliminates the expense of sterilizing of metal ice cream containers after each use of 7 the same, and the inconvenience of a dispenser of ice cream storing the soiled metal containers until such time as they may be collected by the ice cream distributor.

The down turned flange H5 at the top of the container body acts to reinforce the open top of I the container and by reason of the lapping of the portion iii of the flange with the glue flaps iii, the glued seam is prevented from opening up from the top of the container.

The lid or cover ll heretofore mentioned is constructed of cardboard and the side walls of the cover telescope the reinforced top edge of the container body.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired. r

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A container comprising a collapsible tubular member, quadrantal flaps integral with the bottom of said tubular member and foldable inwardly into lapped bottom forming position, tongue and slot connections between diametrically disposed quadrantal flaps' for locking the same together, inwardly foldable webs connecting portions of said flaps with said tubular member and being folded over the inside of said flaps when the same are in bottom forming position, and an inner bottom fibre board disk snugly fitting within said tubular member and seated upon said inwardly folded webs.

2. A container comprising a collapsible tubular member, quadrantal flaps integral with the bottom of said tubular member and foldable inwardly into lapped bottom forming position, tongue and slot connections between diametrically disposed quadrantal flaps for locking the same together, inwardly foldable webs connect-- in: portions of said flaps with said tubular member and being folded over the inside of said flaps when the same are in bottom forming position, an inner bottom fibre board disk snugly fitting within said tubular member and seated upon said inwardly folded webs, a cardboard rim fitt about the bottom of said tubular member, and a shoulder provided on the inner side of said rim and abutting the underside of the outermost flaps.

3. A collapsible container comprising a single blank of flexible fibre board flexed to provide a cylindrical side wall, two pairs of quadrantal bottom flaps integral with the bottom of said side wall, the flaps of each pair being diametrically opposed and overlapping each other, the flaps of each pair also overlapping the flaps of the other pair, interlocking means between the flaps of each pair for securing the flaps in bottom forming position, inwardly folded webs connecting portions of said flaps with said cylindrical side wall and overlying said flaps, an inner bottom fibre boarddisk snugly fitting within said cylindrical side wall and seated upon said inwardly folded webs, and a fibre-board rim fitting about the bottom edge of said cylindrical side wall.

4. A container comprising a collapsible tubular member, flaps integral with the bottom of said tubular member folded inwardly into lapped bot- 20 tom forming position, interlocking means for securing said flaps in bottom forming position, inwardly folded webs connecting portions of. said flaps with said tubular member and being folded over the inside of said flaps, and an inner bottom disk snugly fitting within said tubular member and seated upon said inwardly folded webs.

5. A container comprising a collapsible tubular member, flaps integral with the bottom of said tubular member folded inwardly into lapped bottom forming position, interlocking means for securing said flaps in bottom forming position, inwardly folded webs connecting portions of said flaps with said tubular member and being folded over the inside of. said flaps, and an inner bottom disk snugly fitting within said tubular member and seated upon said inwardly folded webs,

and a reinforcing rim fitting about the bottom of said tubular member within the plane of said flaps and disk.

LOUIS ROSENFIEID. 

